Reforming Teachers' Continuing Professional Learning
The overall aim of the Center of Excellence AEO “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools” programme is to support the development of young people in Kazakhstan to become critical thinkers and independent learners able to use digital technology to support their learning. With this purpose, teams of Cambridge trainers have been working in country with Kazakh educators to develop a cascade training model. This 'train the trainers' programme supports expert teachers and lecturers who have been nominated to become trainers of the other Kazakh teachers. The trainers are prepared at three different levels to then develop the learning and expertise of teachers in the comprehensive school system. All teaching sessions delivered by Cambridge trainers are carried out with the support of expert interpreters who translate simultaneously. Written materials are shared on a project wiki and are made available in three languages (English, Russian and Kazakh) to all participants.
Team Members
Key people involved in the development of this multi-level programme were Dr Elaine Wilson, Dr Fay Turner, and Dr Simon Brownhill in partnership with Center of Excellence AEO “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools” in Astana and project management support from Cambridge International Examinations.
Outcomes of the Programme
A cascade model of training was carried out in collaboration with the existing in service organisation, the National Centre for Professional Development Orleu. The programmes have produced 52,885 accredited teachers, of which, 36,173 are classroom teachers, 7,647 are middle leaders, 9,065 are senior leaders. The vast majority of the classroom teachers were trained by professionals from Orleu who had also been accredited through the Center of Excellence programme. 56% of the teachers have more than 10 years of teaching experience. 23,320 (44%) teach in Primary schools. In addition 1,736 Head teachers have completed the leadership programme. (The Impact of Center of Excellence: Executive Summary 2016).
